Dryandra Woodland - Department of Environment and Conservation ...

• Encourage and maintain the composition and diversity of plant and animal communities, with
particular emphasis on threatened species.
• Minimise the incidence and restrict the extent of unplanned fires.
• Protect plantation areas, allowing fire only for fuel reduction or silvicultural purposes.
• Maintain fuel datum areas for research purposes.
Based on the Wildfire Threat Analysis of Dryandra Woodland, it is proposed that effective fire
protection be achieved by a combination of fuel reduced buffers, the maintenance of efficient
detection and suppression systems, and regular and constructive liaison with farmers, visitors and the
general public. Maps 5a and 5b show the location of the fuel reduced buffers.
In addition to the buffer burns it is proposed to use prescribed fire:
- to reduce the fire hazard at the Settlement and other recreation sites;
- for fuel reduction and revegetation purposes within the mallet plantations; and
- for experimental vegetation management burns.
STRATEGIES
Fire Prevention
1. Maintain a system of 50-100 m burn buffers along strategic access routes and high risk public
roads to assist containment of wildfires to bocks of about 400 to 600 ha, as depicted on maps
5(a) and (b). Maintain fuel levels within these buffers at less than 7-8 tonnes/ha. Where
practicable, link the buffers with natural low fuel areas, such as breakaways and wandoo flats.
2. Maintain low fuel levels (less than 7 to 8 tonnes/ha) in buffer strips and areas immediately
adjoining the Settlement, recreation sites and other facilities.
3. Reduce the risk of wildfire by progressively phasing in gas barbecues. In the interim period
allow fires in constructed fireplaces only
4. Restrict fires associated with backpack camping to portable fuel stoves for cooking only.
5. Consider closing areas within Dryandra to the public to protect environmental assets 9eg. long
unburnt areas) during extreme fire conditions.
Burning Operations
6. Maintain an appropriate range of vegetation community age classes to ensure maximum
habitat diversity.
7. Ensure all prescribed burns comply with written prescriptions approved by the Regional
Manager. The prescription must incorporate an environmental checklist which takes into
consideration the impact of burning on the environment. Where monitoring sites or research
plots are involved, consult the appropriate research officer.
8. Modify, relocate or defer proposed burns where threatened flora occurs within these areas.
Where it is a necessary component of the species' life cycle, or where in exceptional
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